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Zane Merva Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com 3/30/2016 Are you looking for an easy to complete home project that will give your new Silverado or Sierra a little kick in the pants? Cold Air Inductions has an intake system designed for your truck that’s not only easy to install but adds a custom look under the hood, too. Before vs After Product: CAI Cold Air Intake System for 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra with the 5.3L V8 Manufacturer: Cold Air Inductions Suggested Retail Price: $429.99 Product Website: CAI - 2014-2016 5.3L Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Intake System (Textured Black Finish) Features +12-horsepower +6 ft-lbs of torque Up to +3 MPG increase in fuel economy Aluminum Insulated Air Box Removable Box Lid with filter viewing window 4-inch thermal coated intake tube High-performance air filter Made in the USA No tune required Unboxing Our CAI Intake System came in securely shipped in a single cardboard box. The entire intake came in only a few pieces and without any small or loose parts. We found the items inside packaged well and free of damage. Inside we found the cold air intake box, a black coated metal snorkel tube, a rubber joint with vacuum hose hookups, and a pre-oiled cone filter. All hardware was already assembled or attached to the parts. Installation We installed this intake on a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with the 5.3L V8. If you know how to work a screwdriver, a socket/ratchet combination, and are not afraid to have to climb into the hood of your truck, we think you would have no problem completing this installation at home in your own driveway. A topside creeper would make this easier but is not required. A tool set that includes hex bits and socket extensions is required. We started off the process of removing the stock air box and plenum by disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery. We then removed the brace that runs over the battery to gain more room to work and carefully pulled the mass airflow sensor (MAF) out of the factory snorkel. Do not disconnect the MAF sensor. We next disconnected the two stock vacuum hoses that run into the valve covers. We also loosened the clamp that holds the stock intake to the throttle body and removed the resonator box. Then we snuggly pulled up to pop the factory air filter box out of place. We also transferred a rubber grommet from the factory box to the CAI intake shroud. This was perhaps the most difficult part of the install. We eventually had to cover the rubber grommet with dawn detergent to be able to push it in the hole on the shroud. It’s a snug fit, so be careful not to bend anything. The CAI air filter box then simple snaps back into the location where the factory air box was removed. We then secured the new rubber connection joint to the throttle body and reconnected the vacuum tubes to the tops of the valve covers. After slipping on the intake tube and attaching the cone air filter, we were nearly complete with our install. After carefully reinstalling the MAF sensor and applying the CAI Decals, we reattached the intake lid. After reinstalling the cross brace and reconnecting the negative terminal of the battery, we were done. Our total install time was approximately 30 minutes. Here lies the remains of the stock intake system. Results It only takes a turn of the key to hear the difference between the factory intake and CAI’s cold air system. The cold air intake offers a deeper, throatier sound at full throttle compared to stock. At idle, there’s no difference. On the road this Silverado sounds like a new beast. Air intake noise is much louder and right after pushing the peddle down you can hear a rush of air enter the plenum. While the stock intake is designed to hush the sound of air rushing through the throttle body, CAI’s cold air intake system accentuates it. As a result, the engine sound that comes from under the hood is slightly deeper, has more attitude, and sounds louder. So, does a cold air intake make any difference with how your truck performs? Since we didn't do before and after dyno tests we are not in a position to substantiate any claims of improved performance. There are many independent tests and even members here that have indeed seen horsepower and torque improvements when dyno'd. MPG numbers are a lot more difficult to test, but there are many people who claim improved mileage. What we will say is that as users of various cold air intake systems over the past few years, we have enjoyed benefits from every single one, regardless of which vehicle they’ve been installed on. The easiest difference to spot with the CAI system is how it makes the engine on this 2015 Chevrolet Silverado pop! The stock factory plastic is dull and covers up much of the engine. The CAI intake is slim, well designed and made from quality materials. The clear plastic window shows almost the entire air filter, making inspection a snap. Conclusion Are you ready to make some small changes to your truck that give it a more custom look? Maybe you want your engine to be a little louder and have a touch of attitude at the same time. Perhaps you just hate the look of the stock intake and want to spice up your engine bay. The CAI Intake system solves those issues and gives you a quality made-in-America intake that you can install yourself. This product was provided in exchange for our objective and unbiased review.